The SGA proposes a joint student-faculty committee to further address this issue. The committee would
be composed of members from the SGA Academic Affairs Committee and the Faculty Senate Educational
Policies Committee. The matter has been referred to the Senate's Educational Policies Committee for joint
consideration with the SGA Academic Affairs Committee.
Old Business
Experiences of the 1999-2000 Tenure and Academic Freedom Committee
Jane Bradford, Chair of the 1999-2000 Tenure and Academic Freedom Committee (TAFC), summarized
the history of the Gomez case and the TAFC's involvement with the case. During her presentation of the Gomez
case to the Stetson Board of Trustees, University counsel Jennifer Railey charged the TAFC with, among other
things, "protecting one of their own." The TAFC took exception to their characterization by Railey and
responded with letter to the Board of Trustees. The TAFC also briefed the Faculty Senate on this situation late
last Spring.. The Senate, in turn, sent a letter to President Lee in support of the TAFC and their work on the
Gomez case.
The TAFC met with President Doug Lee, Trustee Chair David Rinker, immediate past Chair of the
Faculty Senate Diane Everett, and current Senate Chair Michael Branton on October 17,2000 to discuss the issue
and attempt to "clear the air." TAFC members came away from this meeting with mixed feelings. There was
particular disappointment among TAFC members that the Committee was never notified that case had been
settled or of its ultimate disposition. As such, members of the TAFC assume that their recommendation was not
followed. The Committee believes that this has implications for the faculty and the future willingness of the
faculty to expend significant time and energy on similar matters.
Following some discussion, the following resolution was proposed and seconded: "We, the Faculty
Senate, on behalf of the faculty and the University community, express our deepest apology for the
characterization of the Tenure and Academic Freedom Committee that was made by the University's attorney,
Jennifer Railey, and we thank them for carrying out their responsibilities in good faith as outlined in the
governance structure of the University."
The resolution was approved unanimously by the Senate.
Senate By-Law Changes Related to the Proposed University Grievance Policy
Senate Vice-Chair Tandy Grubbs revisited the problem discussed at the November and December
Senate meetings with the By-laws revision passed by the Senate at its October meeting. In brief, the AAUP
guidelines referenced in section 3.4.2.4 of article 3.4 of the By-laws, in part, are inconsistent with
Stetson's tenure and promotion policies. To correct this problem, Grubbs suggested that all applicable
AAUP Statements referenced in Stetson policies be placed in one location, as Appendix A to the Faculty
Handbook. This would require amendment of Faculty by-law 2.2.1 and Faculty Senate by-laws 1.4, 3.3.3,
4.1, 4.2, 4.4, and 4.5 as well as the creation of Appendix A to the Faculty Handbook. Any future changes
to Appendix A of the Faculty Handbook would have to be approved, per Faculty Senate by-law 4.4, by the
Faculty Senate and, per Faculty by-law 2.2.1 and Faculty Senate by-law 4.4, by the University faculty. [For
more information, see the Faculty Senate web page at https://beret.Stetson.edu/faculty_
senate]
A motion was made and seconded to approve modification to the aforementioned by-laws and the
Faculty Handbook. The motion was approved unanimously. The proposed changes will come before the
University Faculty in February for approval.
